Research Publications (Management Sciences)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/217
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Item Adjustment experiences of first-year students in South Africa(2020) Dlamini, Bongani Innocent; Tom, Reyagalaletsa Felicity; Nel, Kathryn Anne; Zogli, Luther-King JuniorBackground and Objective: For most students, adjusting to both social and academic life entails engenders a modicum of stress and emotional challenges for most students, resulting in risks of students drop-out. The current study sought insight and understanding into the adjustment experiences of first-year students at a previously disadvantaged tertiary institution of Higher learning in South Africa. Materials and Method: Qualitative research was conducted to establish the lived experiences of the participants. Four focus with eighteen first-year participants from different departments were utilised for data collection. Data were gathered via semi-structured interviews, which allowed probing. Thematic Content Analysis was employed to gather themes from the data. Results: The main results indicated that first-year students found life was different, many old familiar and predictable relationships disintegrating. However, they also found independence and the resilience to adapt to change. Positive adjustment experiences and coping mechanisms included working hard, interacting with lecturing staff and attending religious events, while negative ones included drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. Conclusions: The study recommended that orientation for first-year students is imperative and should incorporate a programme that helped first-year students understand the challenges they are likely to face in this new phase of their academic and social development.Item Are higher education institutions positioned to reap the dividends of open education resources? : the case of Durban University of Technology(The Clute Institute, 2013-09) Van der Merwe, Alexander DawidThe potential benefits of open education resources (OERs) are well documented in the literature. These include cheaper education, improved equity in respect of educational prospects, greater access to higher education opportunities for non-traditional learners, encouraging new modes of collaborative learning and leveraging public funds by sharing knowledge. So compelling are these advantages that leading universities globally are currently experimenting with new business models calibrated to extract value from educational offerings that, increasingly, will be expected to include free content. In spite of the obvious merits of OERs, the open education movement faces challenges which are rooted significantly in educators' perceptions of these resources. This descriptive case study sought to examine the attitudes Durban University of Technology (DUT) faculty have towards OERs with the aim of gauging their capacity to be actively involved as developers and users of these materials. The study found that in spite of respondents' recognition of the advantages of OERs and even a degree of superficial employment of these instructional aids, there appears to be no real open education ethos at the institution. Evidence of this includes the relatively low level of sharing of content amongst faculty an d the consensus of respondents that there is no institutional support for OER initiatives. The study concludes that for the university to retain its relevance in an evolving educational landscape, it should create a framework that will not only create space for OER projects but should also address the very human need for recognition and acknowledgement that developers of free and open content have.Item Assessing the effectiveness of an occupational health and safety system in a selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa(AOSIS, 2021-01-26) Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniBackground: It has been established that high levels of safety performance are achieved by strong and positive safety climates. Good safety, health and environmental practices reduce the cost of overall healthcare delivery while increasing general productivity. These sentiments underpin the concept of an occupational health and safety (OHS) system. Aim: This study assesses the effectiveness of an OHS in a selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa. Settings: The automotive organisation that participated in the study has adopted an OHS system. Prior to its implementation, the company experienced an increase in the rate of occupational diseases and injuries. Methods: The study objectives were achieved by examining Health and Safety (H&S) related experiences in the company. The collection of data was carried out in two phases, namely the collection of pre-OHS and post-OHS results from company records for H&S compliance, occupational diseases, as well as workplace injury rates. The pre-OHS results were quarterly data reflecting the company’s H&S performance over the 3-year period prior to the implementation of the OHS system. This company operates in the eThekwini District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. Results: The OHS system has no influence on occupational diseases, or on the workplace injury frequency rates. However, H&S compliance plays a role in the maintenance of the OHS system. Conclusion: In order to maximise performance, a comprehensive OHS policy must be developed that aligns management commitment to the OHS system. Thus, the study uncovered the strengths and weaknesses of OHS in this automotive assembly organisation in South Africa.Item Capital expenditure, population growth and access to water services in South Africa(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2022-10) Murwirapachena, GeniusAccess to sustainable and improved water services is a global concern. In South Africa, households should by law access water services within 200 m of their homes. However, many households still access water from sources more than 200 m away. This study examines the impact of capital expenditure and population growth on access to water services in South Africa. The study highlights access to water services in the country and how it is affected by capital expenditure and population growth. The fixed and random effects estimators are used to analyze panel data for 52 big municipalities during the period 2009 to 2018. Among other findings, the study reports that while capital expenditure improves access to water services, population growth is undoing municipal efforts. Thus, evidence-based planning backed by reliable population growth forecasts is essential for improved access to water services. Studies that quantify the impact of capital expenditure and population growth on access to water services are important as they aid policy formulation and implementation.Item Curbing social impediments for educational innovations in the context of higher institute of learning(Primrose Hall Publishing Group, 2022-07-01) Mthalane, Peggy PinkySocial impediments are the greatest threats to higher institutions of learning in developing countries. The influence of social ills is felt as attendance in learning institutions continue to dwindle and result to growing students drop-out rates. Curbing and incorporating social impediments in the higher education system can enhance innovative collaborative skills to solve global problems thus providing adequate opportunities for students to experience real-life learning experiences in different fields of the job market. For the purpose of this study, the scoping review aided by qualitative approach were used to plot extant evidence for insights into social impediments in the context of higher institutions of higher learning. Primary data based on interviews was extracted through thematic technique supported by quotations and narrative summaries from forty-five (45) participants. The final outcomes show increasing interest by learning institutions to try and curtail social impediments. In addition, it was revealed that curbing social ills, more educational institutions should include social issues as part of their core curricula to shape students’ future for specialized innovative skills.Item Customer’s perception towards product quality of automotive SMEs operating in Metropolitan areas, and consideration of environmental impact(Business Perspectives, 2017-04-08) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele; Dlamini, Henry LuckyThis paper examines customer’s perception towards product quality of automotive SMEs operating in the Durban metropolitan areas and identifies how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa (SA) contribute significantly to job creation, wealth, social stability, economic growth and reduction of poverty. Product quality of automotive SMEs requires serious attention, as it can have ecological environmental impact leading to the negative economic growth contributed by the industry. The study is aimed to understand the factors affecting automotive SMEs in order to help entrepreneurs to improve product quality and examining the customer’s perception towards product quality. The sample size of the study was 120 SMEs selected using convenience sampling with respondents completing the questionnaire. A combined method of both quantitative and qualitative techniques was employed, while the analysis of data was done using the Statistics Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 23.0. The findings of the study revealed that lack of managerial skills and development negatively compromises product quality of the automotive sector. Also the results indicate that the absence of financial support from financial institutions delays the improvement of stock in the business, as this is an obstacle resulting in the unsustainability of the SMEs. Further research with larger samples and the consideration of other cities is recommended.Item A discourse on the plight of South African women in the face of abuse and neglect(University of the Western Cape, 2021-10-25) Fagbadebo, OmololuAn upsurge in the rate of violence against women has an adverse effect on women in South Africa. Sadly, many South African women who are the victims of violent sexual conduct, such as rape and other forms of violent sexual abuse, have in part contributed to the prevalence of HIV/AIDS infection among women. Of the 7,7 million South African living with HIV/AIDS in 2018, 4,7 million were women, while another 69 000 were among the new infections. They are more vulnerable to HIV infections with 21,17 percent of women living with the disease. Using personal conversations, literature searches and documents for primary and secondary data, this article argues that value orientation that ascribes superiority to men has damaging consequences on the status of women. South African women are exposed to violent habitual actions of men that denigrate their womanhood. The article, therefore, submits that there is a need to reinforce civil society and strengthen the justice system for the protection and promotion of the rights and freedom of women. Aside from this, the government should increase its commitment to the enforcement of requisite legislative frameworks that safeguard the rights and freedom of women, and review punishments for any acts of violence against women.Item Economic conditions that leads to illegal electricity connections at Quarry Road Informal Settlement in South Africa(International Journal of Special Education, 2022) Geyevu, Mawuena; Mbandlwa, ZamokuhleCrime statistics in South Africa seems to increase every year. Illegal electricity connection is considered a crime and a punishable offence. Crime can be caused by different aspects, e.g. poverty, drug abuse and alcohol abuse. Unemployment seems to be the leading cause of crime which may indirectly lead to poverty. Unemployment rate has gone up and people are looking for alternative solutions to support themselves and their families. Unemployment is one of the reason stated by people who illegally connect electricity. The illegal connection of electricity can be categorized into two groups. The first group is the group of people that utilize illegally connected electricity because they claim not to afford to pay for the electricity. The second group is the group of people who illegally connect electricity as a form of employment and illegally connect electricity for community members for a specific amount of money as remuneration. The study investigated illegal electricity connections in Quarry Informal Settlements. The main objective of this study was to explore the reason of illegal electricity connections in informal settlements focusing on Quarry Informal Settlement. Illegal electricity connections are lethal and the residents of Quarry Informal Settlements are aware of these consequences yet they seem to have no other alternatives to connecting electricity and no intervention from the municipality. Findings of this study also revealed that connecting electricity in Quarry Road Informal Settlement has since become a norm. It has since become an acceptable act to connect electricity illegally. A minority bought their houses with an already installed illegal connection while most have become accustomed to this act.Item Economic costs of patients attending the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS (PMTCT) services in Ethiopia : urban-rural setting(Danubius University, 2016) Zegeye, Elias Asfaw; Mbonigaba, Josue; Kaye, Sylvia BlancheEconomic analyses of patients’ costs are pertinent to improve effective healthcare services including the prevention of mother-to-child HIV/AIDS transmission (PMTCT). This study assessed the direct and non-direct medical costs borne by pregnant women attending PMTCT services in urban (high-HIV prevalence) and rural (low-HIV prevalence) settings, in Ethiopia. Patient-level direct medical costs and direct non-medical data were collected from HIV-positive pregnant women in six regions. The cost estimation was classified as direct medical (service fee, drugs and laboratory) and direct non-medical (food, transportation and accommodation). The mean direct medical expense per patient per year was Ethiopian birr (ETB) 746 (US$ 38) in the urban settings, as compared to ETB 368 (US$ 19) in the rural settings. On average, a pregnant woman from urban and rural catchments incurred direct non-medical costs of ETB 6,435 (US$ 327) and ETB 2,154 (US$ 110) per year, respectively. On average, non-medical costs of friend/relative/guardian were ETB 2,595 (US$ 132) and ETB 2,919 (US$ 148.39) in the urban and rural settings, respectively. Although the PMTCT service is provided free of charge, HIV-positive pregnant women and infant pairs still face a substantial amount of out-of-pocket spending due to direct medical and non-medical costs.Item Establishing an understanding of the innovation process of informal micro-enterprises(Informa UK Limited, 2022-09-23) Mulibana, Lavhelesani; Rena, RavinderInnovation has been discerned as a catalyst that enables firms to remain relevant and sustainable. In recent years, the innovation discipline has been extended to the informal sector. Nonetheless, to date little is known about the process that is followed by informal micro-enterprises to execute innovation activity in each innovation phase. Thus, this study sought to establish an understanding of the process that is followed by informal micro-enterprises to execute innovation activity in each innovation phase. The study adopted a mixed-methods research design to sequentially collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data from informal micro-enterprises that are based in the townships of the Gauteng province. The study revealed that credible customer assemblies are used to acquire knowledge and information necessary to execute innovation activity and to test innovations before they are launched in the market. Moreover, while informal micro-enterprises mostly use internal resources to transform innovative ideas into innovations, coopetition relationships aid to foster open innovation and limit the strain on internal resources. The findings suggest that informal micro-enterprises innovate differently from formal small businesses and there is a need for researchers and the government to introduce policies and initiatives to enhance open innovation in the informal sector.Item Evaluating the impacts of Covid-19 pandemic on the socioeconomic status of South African women(IKENGA International Journal of Institute of African Studies, 2023-03-30) Rena, Ravinder; Mbukanma, IfeanyiThis research was conducted to evaluate the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the socioeconomic status of South African women. There is an urgent need for a better understanding of the unique circumstances and provisional assistance of effective support for women throughout the Covid-19 crisis and its aftermath considering the level of impact the virus had on women. To achieve the researchobjective, a literature- based analysis was employed, which provides an in-depth analysis and evaluation of previous literature on the unprecedented nature and trend of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impacts on the socioeconomic status of women in South Africa. Thus, despite the limited scientific data on the most recent development of the pandemic, the findings revealed that the pandemic has escalated most variables of socioeconomic status of women in South Africa, which include high poverty rates, increased rates of unplanned pregnancy, school drop-out of schoolgirls and child labour among teenage girls, lack of income, decreased financial empowerment, reduced access to conducive healthcare, excessive maternal mortality, and growing food shortages and malnutrition. Thus, as the world continues to search for a reliable vaccine and other preventive measures for the virus, this paper recommended that policymakers and stakeholders around the globe, and most especially in South Africa, should develop coherent and strategic policies that will incorporate and attend to the socioeconomic needs of women.Item Examining the Impact of sports sponsorship on fan attitude and purchase intentions towards sponsors' products in professional football : a study of the Ghanaian fan base(Cosmos Scholars Publishing House, 2023) Sarpong, Appiah; Zungu, Nkululeko PraiseGodThis paper investigates the mediating role of fans' attitudes in the relationship between sports sponsorship and the purchase intention of Ghanaian football fans. Survey data were collected from 398 official supporter groups of Kumasi Asante Kotoko SC (Circles) and Accra Hearts of Oak SC (Chapters) using a purposive sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was utilized to gather the data. The study employed structural equation modeling (SEM) to validate the model. The results indicate that sponsorship significantly influences purchase intention and fans' attitudes. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate that fan attitude mediates the relationship between sponsorship and purchase intention. These findings suggest that sponsorship plays a significant role in improving the purchase intention of football fans, and the impact of sponsorship on purchase intention is strengthened by fans' attitudes. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of the complex dynamics between sponsorship, fans' attitude, and purchasing intention, particularly in the context of Ghanaian football fans. While the study provides useful findings for industrial players and practitioners, it is essential to acknowledge that this study relied on cross-sectional survey data, which limits our ability to establish causal relationships. Additionally, the current study focused specifically on soccer fans of only two Clubs in Ghana, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings to fans of other teams or sports, limiting the applicability of the study's results to a broader context.Item Governance of the research activities in higher educational institutions: factors and outcomes(Virtus Interpress, 2016) Ngibe, Musawenkosi; Lekhanya, Lawrence MpeleSouth African higher education institutions, specifically, universities of technology have been faced with an arduous battle of increasing postgraduate students enrolment (masters and doctoral) and improve their completion rate. However, the situation is exacerbated by inadequate number and inexperience of supervisors to supervise these postgraduate students. The Durban University of Technology has formulated research structures to administer and co-ordinate research activities in order to improve the number of staff members with doctoral qualifications in order to aid the current challenges. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the circumstances and factors hindering the academic staff throughput rates and the impact it has on the university. The use of qualitative and quantitative approach was used for this study, with closed and open-ended questionnaires used to collect data from 278 academic staff members using a probability sampling. The respondents 9 (4.9%) indicated that lack of external funding and project management skills proved to be major contributory factors hindering academics staff to complete their postgraduate degrees within the required time. The study recommends that funding should be made easily available to academics pursuing doctoral studies, while project management workshops should be organised regularly to help academics appropriately management their studies. This can have a positive impact which will benefit the university and aid to the current crisis of lack of supervisor for masters and doctoral studies.Item The impact of social media within the sporting industry(Business Perspectives, 2015) Hussain, Sameera BanuPublic Relations within the sporting industry should play a vital role towards an organization’s key publics, the relationships developed and the overall organizational image that the sport organization portrays. Ultimately public relations are responsible for creating and maintaining a mutually favorable relationship amongst an organization and its key publics. Based on this premise, it can therefore be said that public relations within the sporting industry serve as a management function which involves the managing of communication, reputation and relationships that determine the success or failure of that sport organization. The role of public relations within sporting organizations have acquired considerable significance in the new media era. Hence, making the job of a public relations professional equally easy and difficult in terms of understanding social media, how publics use it and how to connect with their key publics. Therefore this study set out to assess the impact of social media communication tools within the sporting industry. A quantitative descriptive methodology was employed for this study. The results of the study indicated that although social media are used as a communication tool, other social media platforms should be included in the sport organizations communication strategy.Item The impact of substance abuse in South Africa : a case of informal settlement communities(2020-07-20) Mbandlwa, Zamokuhle; Dorasamy, NirmalaSubstance abuse is a major challenge for many young people globally. South Africa has been reported as a country that is experiencing high levels of alcohol abuse. The focus of this paper is to articulate the contributing factors to substance abuse in South Africa. This paper is presenting the results of the study that was conducted in the informal settlement areas. Conclusions made in this paper about substance abuse in South Africaare based on the findings of substance abuse in the informal community. This study found that the high consumption and abuse of alcohol in South Africaare found amongst young people. The factors such as unemployment, lack of effective mentorship, lack of family values, poor parenting guidance, and loss of hope contributed. This study applied a desktop research methodology, the secondary data was analyzed and unpacked to address the objectives of the study. The main objective of this study was to investigate the causes and the reasons why young people are abusing alcohol. The investigation focused on the excessive and abnormal use of alcohol by young people.Item Inclination of higher education students towards medical and healthcare start-ups : an empirical study in the post covid scenario(NeuroQuantology, 2022-06-01) Lourens, Melanie Elizabeth; Newaskar, Prabha Shakya; Satyamurthy, D.V.Satyamurthy.G; Tamijeselwan, S.In an advanced world, extra fees aren't always a supply of worry, particularly if the pleasant of products and offerings received is better. Also, there's not anything uncommon approximately a populace stresses extra of a positive type of provider whilst its earnings capability increases. A better fashionable of dwelling is in truth a number of the elements which have brought about the increase in fitness care expenditure in latest decades. In maximum areas of the economy, the numerous troubles going through the fitness care machine might be alleged as possibilities with the aid of using marketers. However, on the grounds that health facility and scientific offerings believed to be vital are dominated with the aid of using the government – which price range 70% of the nation’s general fitness care costs – marketers are with the aid of using definition omitted from a massive a part of the fitness sector. In spite of governments having installation several running agencies and commissions, and regardless of the funding of huge sums of cash in latest years, our fitness care machine continues to be suffering to meet the people’s hopes. There isn't any uncertainty that marketers can be referred to as upon to soak up the demanding situations posed with the aid of using the getting older of the populace and the developing prices of fitness care on this nation. Sample of 215 students from higher education were considered to know different factors and their impact on Inclination of Higher Education Students Towards Medical and Healthcare Start-Ups. The study concludes that Scope and Opportunities, Skill and Talent, Entrepreneurial Consciousness and Awareness towards healthcare are the factors that determines the Inclination of Higher Education Students Towards Medical and Healthcare Start-Ups.Item The influence of culture marketing communications : critical cultural factors influencing South African and German businesses(Sumy State University and "Business Perspectives", 2014) Schnalke, Marcel; Mason, Roger BruceThe area of international communication possesses great potential for research. This study is undertaken in order to understand the influence of national culture on marketing communications between South African and German businesses. The study is undertaken as a cross-sectional quantitative survey combined with qualitative in-depth interviews to provide better understanding of the information obtained from the survey. The data was collected with the aid of a research questionnaire, which was emailed to the research sample. Collected data was analyzed using SPSS (Version 17.0) and descriptive analysis was carried out using tables and figures as well as the application of inferential statistics. The research sample was obtained from the Membership Directory 2010/2011 of the Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry with contact details of 500 companies located in South Africa and dealing with German businesses. Findings of the study revealed the following as critical cultural factors to marketing communication: language, value systems, religion, level of education, attitude towards time, as well as the marketing communication style and marketing messages. The study has revealed the emergence of new challenges for companies operating internationally. The national culture of each country is highlighted as an area of importance whose variables exert considerable influence on the communication process. In light of the research findings, recommendations for improving international communication between South African and German companies are provided.Item Innovation activities of informal micro-enterprises in Gauteng, South Africa : a systematic review of the literature(Informa UK Limited, 2021-06-07) Mulibana, Lavhelesani; Rena, RavinderThe literature revealed that 70–80% of South African small businesses, including informal micro-enterprises, fail in the first year of their existence. Innovation has been recognized as a catalyst that can enhance informal micro-enterprises’ probabilities to survive and transform them from survivalists to sustainable businesses that grow the economy and create jobs. As far as it can be reasonably determined, there has not been a systematic review of the literature on innovation activities of informal micro-enterprises in the Gauteng province, South Africa. This study aims to present a systematic review of the literature, as well as research gaps identified in the literature, and future research opportunities. This paper thus systematically reviews the literature on innovation activities of informal micro-enterprises in the Gauteng province. The study revealed that the innovation capacity of informal micro-enterprises is severely hampered by innovation tradition and social tax. Subsequently, informal micro-enterprises engage less in innovation activity and those that do innovate often engage in incremental rather than radical innovation. Radical innovations are more crucial than incremental innovations. Thus, there is a need for researchers and government organizations to establish initiatives that can aid the informal micro-enterprises to engage more in radical innovation.Item The integration of general education in the academic programme to enhance the self-efficacy of accounting students at a South African university(AMH International Conferences and Seminars Organizing LLC, 2020) Naidoo, Suntharmurthy Kristnasamy; Govender, S.The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of General Education in enhancing the Self-efficacy of Cost and Management Accounting (CMA) students to assess whether Self-efficacy, is having any positive influence on the students’ academic performance. The research design for this paper was descriptive, longitudinal and a mixed-method approach. The nature of the quasi-experimental approach that was used in the current paper is a non-equivalent pre-test and post-test control group design. The target population was CMA students. A census survey was conducted. Findings, which were analysed with the aid of descriptive statistics, indicate a significant correlation in the post-test (Self-efficacy) scores of the group that undertook the General Education Modules and not the group that did not undertake the General Education Modules. This paper recommends the implementation of General Education skills into the curriculum and a model to measure Self-efficacy of students. Moreover, these skills appear to be very poor amongst current learners and respondents believed that Self-efficacy could have a positive effect on the academic performance of learners.Item Investigating the challenges of e-learning in a developing institution of higher learning : a hypothetical approach(Clute Institute, 2019-05-01) Agbenyegah, Albert Tchey; Dlamini, Bongani InnocentThe popularity of e-learning (EL) largely infiltrated into every sector of South African institutions of higher learning. This growing interest in EL is due to the advent of rapid internet technologies. For decades, South African institutions of higher learning have accepted EL as a vital learning tool for the enhancement of learning and teaching within the higher education sector. However, there are countless challenges that continue to hinder learning and teaching activities. This study seeks to determine the relationships between various challenges and EL capabilities through stated hypotheses. The study is a descriptive, qualitative design aided by a quantitative approach that were applied to collect data. In total 150 full and part-time ICT students including four permanent ICT lecturers participated in the study. By means of statistical methods of descriptive, inferential statistics aided by independent t-tests, three stated hypotheses were formulated and tested. The study therefore, recommends that higher institutions of learning should increase investments in various EL programs including relevant ICT infrastructure development and also in levels of connectivity. The study further recommends that EL contents should be designed taking into account the cultural characteristics of students.